Pollution in the workplace is a common problem that can entail numerous risks for workers and the company's business. We will look at the different types of pollution, the associated risks, the employer's liability and the solutions proposed by OSE Services.
Defining pollution in the workplace
Pollution is defined as any liquid, gas or solid substance that compromises a company's activities because its nature, origin or dangerousness is unknown. It can result in visual, physical or chemical defects, as well as the release of unknown products, toxic fumes or the undesirable presence of a product that has caused an incident.
Risks associated with pollution in the workplace
Pollution in the workplace can lead to a deterioration in the quality of the end product, compromised use of the premises or work stoppages for operators, with injuries of varying severity. This problem affects a wide range of sectors, including construction and public works, the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the plastics industry, personal services (hotels, restaurants, etc.) and many others.
Employer responsibility
In addition to their responsibility and commitment to the customer for the quality of the finished product, employers have a duty towards their employees: the formation of pollution in direct contact with operators must be investigated in order to control the risk. The employer must ask questions about: the composition and concentration of this pollution; the toxicological data relating to these compound(s); and lastly, the protection available to employees.
Solutions offered by OSE Services
When a company is affected by pollution, it is important to limit the impact on operators and the finished product. OSE Services offers on-site intervention to :
- Gain an overall understanding of the context in which the pollution occurred
- Carry out on-site analyses depending on the case identified (particles, gas, liquid, raw materials, etc.)
- Take samples for further laboratory analysis.
Depending on the problem, the scientific resources to be used on site need to be adapted. To do this, the context of the intervention is crucial. The investigative work takes into account all the hypotheses and data known a priori, which are processed in an open and transparent way to find the origin of the incident.
Why call on OSE Services?
At OSE Services, our engineers are experts in physico-chemical analyses for intervention and chemical risks. They travel directly to the site to carry out on-site analyses, equipped with professional portable equipment and transportable analytical instruments that enable them to identify products quickly and provide immediate answers.
In the event of litigation, the engineers are also legal experts, and are experienced in working in the presence of bailiffs or in drafting reports that can be used in these specific contexts. They can also carry out site visits before pollution occurs, to identify hazards and assess risks. Or give recommendations to avoid further pollution.